Investigation of the relationship between cell surface hydrophobicity and demulsifying capability of biodemulsifier-producing bacteria

Abstract

Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) is one of the key physicochemical features of biodemulsifier-producing bacteria that influence their demulsification capability maintenance in petroleum contaminated environments. In present study, biodemulsifier-producing bacteria were isolated from petroleum contaminated environments using different isolation media and the correlation between their CSH and demulsifying ability was investigated. The demulsifying ability of isolates was measured through demulsification tests on water in kerosene emulsions. The microbial adhesion to the hydrocarbon (MATH) assay was used to denote their CSH. The evaluation of CSH showed that majority of biodemulsifier producing bacteria have high CSH which indicating a positive correlation between CSH and demulsifying capability. According to these results it can be concluded that CSH can be used as an indicator for assessment of biodemulsifier-producing bacteria and screening of new isolates for their biodemulsifier production.